The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : It is a happening city for burglars too

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

It is a happening city for burglars too

Burglars have been striking at will all over the city, writes K.V. Subramanya

BURGLARS ARE employing new methods to break into houses and business establishments. In the past month, they have entered two jewellery shops in the city through the tunnels they had dug and taken away gold ornaments and silver articles worth lakhs of rupees.

Though burglary, called "house break-in and theft" in police jargon, is the most common crime reported in the city, the innovative techniques used by criminals have baffled both the police and the public. Apart from digging tunnels through sewage lines or storm water drains to enter shops, burglars gain entry into houses by removing exhaust fans and air-conditioners.

Arguably, the first incident of thieves entering a jewellery shop through a tunnel was reported from the Jeevanbimanagar police station in 1998. The case still remains unsolved.

Various targets

Burglars have been striking at will all over the city, targeting not only houses and business establishments, but also temples, banks, post offices, godowns and even rooms in the Legislators' Home located next to the Vidhana Soudha. Sometime ago, thieves broke open the doors of a barber-shop in Wilson Garden police station limits and made away with two gunny bags full of hair.

Is it not possible to check cases of burglary which have been increasing steadily? The police say that burglary, which is one of the oldest crimes, cannot be prevented. However, the number of cases can be brought down if the public takes adequate precaution.

Negligence has been greatly contributing to burglaries, the police say.

During a survey conducted by the city police sometime ago, it was found that in most cases burglars entered houses through rear doors which were of poor quality.

"People spend huge amounts on decorating main doors and use quality wood and locks. However, rear doors are often made of poor-quality wood which breaks easily," the report said.

When people go away from the city for long, they fail to inform suppliers of newspapers and milk. On seeing newspapers and milk sachets lying in front of houses for days, thieves get to know that the occupants are away, the police say.

Surveillance

A senior police official says improving the surveillance on those released from jails is also necessary to bring down burglaries.

Most of the people arrested for burglary continue to commit the same offence after their release from jail. There are about 9,000 "out-of-view" criminals in the city, about whom the police have no information, he says, while making out a case for strengthening the criminal intelligence network.

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